Chapter 1 Behind the Half-Open Door

I slipped the signed divorce agreement into an envelope and dropped it into the mailbox by the front door. But just as I turned to leave, I heard my mother's voice from inside.

"Ian, don't feel guilty about taking the position. I'm Jensen's mother, and I made the decision for him. We're all in agreement—the placement should go to you."

Even though I had already heard Natalie say that my family approved of everything, seeing it with my own eyes still made my heart ache.

My feet refused to move, as though they had taken root in the ground. Through the crack in the door, I watched my mother carry steaming platters of seafood from the kitchen and set them on the table one after another.

"Ian, I remembered that lobster's your favorite. I bought plenty today just to celebrate you getting the placement. Eat as much as you like. Don't be shy."

She had never shown me that kind of care. Growing up, she could not even remember that I was allergic to peaches, yet she remembered someone else's favorite food without fail.

At the dinner table, my younger sister, the one I had treasured since she was little, raised her glass to Natalie.

"Natalie, you're incredible. To go this far for Ian… I really admire you."

Natalie had spread rumors that ruined my reputation, yet not a single member of my family had spoken up for me.

Unable to stop myself, I looked toward the head of the table, desperate to see who possessed such unbelievable influence over the people closest to me. The moment I saw the man sitting there, the blood in my veins seemed to freeze.

It was Ian Talbot, the very same volunteer teacher who had been assigned with me to the mountain village three years ago.

Just last week, we had a bitter falling-out after he secretly withdrew my nomination for Outstanding Teacher, causing me to miss the selection entirely. In the end, the title had gone to him instead.

Without any evidence to expose what he had done, all the hard work I had put into that school over the past three years had amounted to nothing.

I had lost my temper and punched Ian during the argument. For that, the school suspended me, and even my students had started looking at me differently.

When I had called my mother to tell her what had happened, she had cursed Ian over the phone, calling him shameless. Now, she was personally picking out the tender fish belly for him.

My younger sister had cried for me back then, insisting she would report the matter to the Department of Education and help me seek justice. Now, she was presenting Ian with an expensive gift she had carefully prepared.

As for Natalie, my wife of three years, she accepted everyone's teasing with a smile before leaning over and planting a kiss on Ian's cheek. "I knew you could do it."

A sharp pain twisted through my chest. For a brief moment, my vision went black, and I nearly collapsed.

Just then, my phone rang.

Taking a deep breath, I answered it and realized the call was from the rural school where I had been teaching. "Mr. Slater, in recognition of your dedication over the past three years, the school has approved your requested transfer. You'll be reassigned to a restricted research institute in the northwest. We've already booked your ticket for tomorrow, so please keep an eye out for the confirmation text."

Listening to the voice on the other end, I could not help finding the whole situation painfully ironic.

After losing the Outstanding Teacher award, I had submitted a transfer request in a moment of anger. I had spent the entire night afterward lying awake, wondering how I should explain everything to my wife.

It turned out she had already chosen someone else.

I no longer wanted to stay there. Dragging my heavy feet, I turned to leave. But before I could get far, someone hurried out after me and called my name.

"Jensen? Is that you? Did you come to congratulate me on getting the doctoral family placement position too?"